In the world of online dating, it's fair to say Tinder might have more of a reputation for casual hook-ups and appearance-based decisions than most thanks to its swipe-to-like feature.

But following the news earlier this month that 80% of people on Tinder hope to find a long-term partner through the app, the company has rolled out ‘smart profiles’ and a new algorithm designed to “empower users to make even more meaningful connections”.

The app will now display job and education information on each profile taken from the information available on Facebook, and the smart profiles will show users what they have in common with a match, such as a mutual friend or attending the same university.

Messaging has also been redesigned to split the new matches and the matches a user has previously been communicating with.

Tinder matches will now display the information users have in common

After introducing the ‘Super Like’ in September, meaning users can swipe upwards to show extra interest, the company describes the latest change as providing “the best Tinder experience yet”.

A statement on the blog reads: “Now you’ll know whether you’re looking at the profile of a fellow alum from your university or someone in an interesting industry. This allows users to make more informed choices when deciding to swipe left, right, or even up – while also providing great conversation starters […]

“New Smart Profiles will now dynamically highlight the information most relevant to you about your potential match, which will be displayed on the front of their profile under their name – such as whether you attended the same school or have a friend in common.”

Tinder says this is information most people have on their bios anyway, and it's up to each user what they wish to share publicly.

Will the changes affect how you use Tinder?

While the company is yet to release detailed information on the algorithm changes, a press release claimed that “machine learning technology assesses and interprets the signals sent by our millions of users,” and that “while these algorithm improvements are all behind the scenes, you’ll notice the difference; these updates have led to a significant increase in matches.”

Tinder's messaging screen now splits conversations

While the popularity of Tinder doesn't seem to be abating, apps such as Bumble, where women make the first move, and Once, encouraging a return to slow dating by having matchmakers hand-pick users one profile every 24 hours, have popped up in response to the aggression women often experience online and the fast-paced nature of Tinder.

So, will upfront information about someone's job or education change your decision to swipe left or right?

Images: Tinder, Thinkstock

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Amy Swales

Amy Swales is a freelance writer who likes to eat, drink and talk about her dog. She will continue to plunder her own life and the lives of her loved ones for material in the name of comedy, catharsis and getting pictures of her dog on the internet.